Hello traders!

US stocks made a late push higher but trading remained weak as investors awaited comments from Fed chief Alan Greenspan.

Trading in narrow ranges for most of the session, the major indices were all near session highs heading into the close.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 20 points at 10,481 while the Nasdaq Composite added 5 points at 2,076 and the S&P500 gained 2 points at 1,198.

See you in the morning with updates........

G.

Good morning traders!

Closing figures from the US last night show the Dow ahead 6.06 points at 10,467.03, the Nasdaq 4.33 points higher at 2,075.76 and the S&P500 up 1.49 points at 1,197.51.

Asian markets are largely negative this morning. The Hang Seng ended the morning down 21.79 points at 13,838.76 and the Nikkei was recently trading down 76.06 points at 11,194.56.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in July, was down 19 cents at $54.30 from its close of $54.49 in New York yesterday.

Off to find some morning news......

Happy trading!

G.

CABLE & WIRELESS UPGRADED TO 'OUTPERFORM' VS 'NEUTRAL' AT CSFB

WOOD GROUP UPGRADED TO 'OVERWEIGHT' FROM 'UNDERWEIGHT' BY JP MORGAN

GAMES WORKSHOP INITITIATED 'OVERWEIGHT' AT MORGAN STANLEY;PRICE TARGET 5.4 STG

RYANAIR DOWNGRADED TO 'REDUCE' FROM 'ADD' BY ABN AMRO

Outlook
http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=816397

Morning all. Setting off for three weeks holidays today so fingers crossed that the market will be up by the time I return. Perhaps it will be "Sell in May and go away"!!!

Inaccurate chart?

BIOPROGRESS SAYS EXCLUSIVE OPTION DEAL WITH WYETH WILL NOT BE EXTENDED

Digger,

I will get James to look into this - thanks for pointing it out,

Ian

BOOTS UPGRADED TO 'NEUTRAL' VS 'UNDERPERFORM' AT WESTLB
KINGFISHER CUT TO 'UNDERPERFORM' VS 'NEUTRAL' AT WESTLB

Morning all.

Good morning all

What is it with banks! Just got the first statement for a new acount
(Special Business Deposit Account - SIBA for short
- an account that NW only admitted existed when a threat to move money for a higher interest rate)

- it was addressed to a former director who resigned 6 years ago!
Do they ever up-date their records!!!!!

Looks like a nice and positive end to the market :-)

Volumes still lousy but at least today Wall Street gave the FTSE a shot of adrenalin. Here's to more of the same tomorrow. :-)